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Annual Meeting Pastor’s Report – February 4, 2024

February 4, 2024 Annual Meeting Slides

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Sunday Services

See below for a link to the live streaming of our services or to see previous services:

YouTube Channel:  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYF6JWnNARixsYXmVVp-ImA/?guided_help_flow=5

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Caring for God’s Creation

Fridays:  June 21, July 12, August 9
9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. (lunch included)

  Cost is $5 per child / $10 per family per session
 Children age 3 – entering 5th grade

God created an amazing world, and – as God’s children – we have been called to care for it.

Join youth and adult volunteers from Valley as we learn about the mysteries and science of our natural world; and how we can participate in nurturing and healing the earth and all its creatures.

 Activities will include music, movement, science lessons, working in the garden,
service projects, and bible story time.

Register by calling the office, or use the google form below:

Caring for God’s Creation Registration

 

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Rise Against Hunger

Food Packaging Event

Saturday, June 22
10:00 a.m. – noon

We will, again, be working with Rise Against Hunger to package meals for hungry people around the world.   This is a wonderful opportunity for people of all ages to get involved in a hands-on mission while learning more about the goal of eradicating hunger in our lifetime.

This June, we will be partnering with members of Christ Presbyterian Church in Chesterland, who will join us in our Fellowship Hall to package thousands of meals.   All the materials are provided by Rise Against Hunger.   We just need your hands to help!

The meal-packaging process engages volunteers to combine rice, soy, dehydrated vegetables, and a packet of 18 essential vitamins and minerals into small meal packages.   These meal packages are shipped around the world to support school feeding programs and crisis relief.   The food stores easily, transports quickly, and has a shelf-life of two years.   Your impact starts with a meal, and leads to self-sufficiency, sustainability, and brighter futures!

Each meal package – including materials and shipping – costs approximately 40 cents; so, for two dollars, you can support 5 meals; ten dollars = 25 meals; twenty dollars = 50 meals.   Our portion for the event will be $2,000-3,000.

Volunteers are needed on Saturday, June 22 for setup (8:30 – 10 a.m.) and meal packaging (10 a.m. – noon).   Please sign up using this link below, or call the church office, if you would like to help:

Rise Against Hunger Registration

 

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May 30, 2024

 

“Do not neglect to do good and share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.” (Hebrews 13:16)

Members and Friends of Valley,

We are just three weeks away from our next food-packaging event.  This is the third time (our first since 2019) we are partnering with Rise Against Hunger to prepare meal packages that will be sent to help people in need across the globe.  For this effort, we are partnering with Christ Presbyterian Church in Chesterland and hope to complete at least 10,000 meals.

We have lots of opportunities for hands-on, local mission through working in our Faith Garden; making hygiene packets for Homeless Hookup CLE; or taking part in the collecting and sorting, pricing and selling at Pass-It-On, to name a few.  These efforts make an impact in our local communities; but we know that the need extends far wider.

Among the great things about Rise Against Hunger are that they are inclusive — just about anyone can find a way to help — that they make it fun; there is certain to be music and dancing while we are packing.  But it, also, provides a hands-on mission experience that will reach far and wide:  beyond our local community to war zones and disaster areas, to victims of earthquakes, tsunamis, and famine.

One of the ways that you can help with this event is to sign up and volunteer, and to ask others that you know within and beyond this congregation to do the same.  I would, also, encourage you to consider making a financial commitment to this project.  Each meal packet (which serves 3-4 people) costs approximately 40 cents, materials and shipping included.  That means a donation of two dollars will support five packets and up to 20 meals; 20 dollars means 50 packets and up to 200 meals.  You can do the math to figure the multiples.

Understanding that everyone has different financial means, the feeling that comes with being able to feed others — whether providing 20 meals or 200 or, as we hope for our two congregations combined, at least 40,000 — is impossible to quantify.  Through the help of the good folks at Rise Against Hunger, we have the ability to do good and share what we have — even with those a half a world away.

In Christ,
Pastor John

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ANNOUNCEMENTS
(additional announcements are in the bulletin and newsletter)

 

Knitting For Others

Inviting all folks from 12-100 years of age, who like to knit or who would like to learn, to be a part of Valley’s Knitting Group.  We will be knitting special items like prayer shawls, blankets, and other helpful and comforting items for our members and people in our community.

The group will meet (come when your schedule allows):
June
Sunday, June 9 — 12:00 – 2:00 p.m.
Tuesday, June 18 — 5:30 – 7:00 p.m.
July
Sunday, July 14 — 12:00 – 2:00 p.m.
Tuesday, July 23 — 5:30 – 7:00 p.m.

For questions, please call one of our Co-Chairs, Beverly or Bev:

Beverly Wahl – 502-553-7255

Bev Keough – 330-888-5385

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LINKS

 

Church YouTube Channel

The livestream of the worship service is being broadcast via the Valley YouTube channel using this link:

Link to YouTube Live

 

Link to Facebook

Link to Prayer Request List

Link to Sermons

Link to service bulletin:

Sunday, June 2, 2024 service bulletin

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May 23, 2024

 

“God in three persons, blessed Trinity” (from the hymn Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty).

Members and Friends of Valley,

On Trinity Sunday we proclaim the mystery of our faith in the triune God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, One-in-Three and Three-in-One.

In the Christian liturgical year, Trinity Sunday is the culmination of more than six months of seasons:  Christmas-Epiphany celebrating God’s taking flesh and dwelling among us in Jesus Christ; Easter celebrating Christ’s death and resurrection for us; Pentecost celebrating God the Holy Spirit becoming our Sanctifier, Guide, and Teacher.

As many times and ways that Christians attempt to explain the Trinity, it remains a mystery; God is one but expressed in different persons; unified but, also, in loving relationship.  Through our experiences and imaginations, we grow as individuals and a community by embracing this holy mystery.

In celebrating Trinity Sunday, we remember that every Lord’s Day is consecrated to the triune God.  On the first day of the week, God began creation.  On the first day of the week, God raised Jesus from the grave.  On the first day of the week, the Holy Spirit descended on the newly born church.  Every Sunday is special.  Every Sunday is a day of the Holy Trinity.

May this be our prayer for this day and time:

Holy, triune God,
all that is,
all that was,
and all that ever will be belongs to you alone.
You have spoken to us through your Word made flesh.
Now guide us into the truth
by the gift of your Holy Spirit,
so that we may glorify you forever and ever.
(from the Book of Common Worship)

In Christ,
Pastor John

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ANNOUNCEMENTS
(additional announcements are in the bulletin and newsletter)

 

Knitting For Others

Inviting all folks from 12-100 years of age, who like to knit or who would like to learn, to be a part of Valley’s Knitting Group.  We will be knitting special items like prayer shawls, blankets, and other helpful and comforting items for our members and people in our community.

The group will meet (come when your schedule allows):
June
Sunday, June 9 — 12:00 – 2:00 p.m.
Tuesday, June 18 — 5:30 – 7:00 p.m.
July
Sunday, July 14 — 12:00 – 2:00 p.m.
Tuesday, July 23 — 5:30 – 7:00 p.m.

For questions, please call one of our Co-Chairs, Beverly or Bev:

Beverly Wahl – 502-553-7255

Bev Keough – 330-888-5385

________________________________________

LINKS

 

Church YouTube Channel

The livestream of the worship service is being broadcast via the Valley YouTube channel using this link:

Link to YouTube Live

 

Link to Facebook

Link to Prayer Request List

Link to Sermons

Link to service bulletin:

Sunday, May 26, 2024 service bulletin

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Pass-It-On Mission Store